File boxes, one stacked on top of the other, fill a corner of Tippecanoe County Clerk Christa Coffey's office, waiting for examination to determine the depth of the thievery.

Coffey's only comment about the investigation that started six weeks ago is that the theft of money from the clerk's office predates the time she took office in 2011.

The theft was discovered June 3 as employees tallied receipts from June 2 and the drawers didn't balance, Coffey said last month. The employee suspected of stealing the money over several years normally tallied the receipts. But she was off June 3, when the missing cash was discovered.

When that employee returned to work on June 4, Coffey fired her. The investigation by Indiana State Police and the State Board of Accounts continues, Coffey said Thursday.

Indiana State Police Detective Greg Edwards said police are waiting for the State Board of Accounts to audit the books from the clerk's office. Then police will begin to build their case against the former employee who is suspected of siphoning off the cash.

Edwards, who refused to make any detailed comments on the investigation, said it is a slow process, and he has no idea when his investigation might be completed and ready for a prosecutor to review.

Tippecanoe County Prosecutor Pat Harrington said last month that, generally speaking, cases involving county employees are handled by a special prosecutor from another county.

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